Lyrics:

The fading scent of summertime Arbutus trees and firs The glistening of rain-soaked moss Going to the dairy queen at dusk Down narrow roads In autumn light The salt air and the sawmills And the bars are full of songs and tears To the passing of the tugboats And people with their big ideas I just get home and then I leave again It's long ago and far away Now we're skimming stones and Exchanging rings And scattering and sailing from departure bay The house was bare of Christmas lights It came down hard that year Outside in our overcoats Drinking down to the bitter end Trying to make things right Like my mother did Last year we were laughing We sang in church so beautifully Now her perfume's on the bathroom counter And I'm sitting in the back pew crying I just get home and then I leave again It's long ago and far away Now we're skimming stones and Exchanging rings And scattering and sailing from departure bay A song plays on the gramophone And thoughts turn back to life We took the long way to get back Like driving over the malahat Now a seaplane drones and time has flown I won't miss all the glamour While my heart is beating and the lilacs bloom But who knew when I started That Id find a love and bring him home Just get me there and one we will stay A long time off and far away Now we're skimming stones and Exchanging rings We're scattering and diving in departure bay